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Hello everyone....I am 55 year old active woman. I have always known that I have scoliosis...MY parents chose to do nothing.....but recently I have become more worried about it. I have always had pain...but resisted medication....I have been to an orthopedic surgeon in Miami and my double curve is 57 degrees and 52 degrees. I am planning a 2nd opinion hopefully at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore. I am increasingly becoming more concerned because the dr. in Miami says the curves progress 1 degree a year.....so at 70 I would really be in bad shape. I am just starting this journey and am quite confused.....do I wait....do I do surgery now? I worry about those rods...is there any other choice? Thanks for any advice, Pat

Once the curves start progressing, surgery is the only thing that can stop it. It's not an easy surgery of course, but to have it in your fifties is usually way better than having it in your sixties, in my opinion. The trick is to do your homework, get several opinions, and choose an excellent surgeon.

I just spoke with a woman at church -- in her seventies -- with a large progressive lumbar curve who told me how she wishes she'd had the surgery when she was younger because she can't stand or walk for more than five minutes at a time. She's no longer a surgical candidate because of other health factors, and she looks very deformed when she walks. Seeing her and speaking with her made me doubly glad that I took the plunge and had the surgery when I did.

Every now and then I too will spot a woman who is up in age with a very noticeable deformity leaning on a walker or cane. It reaches a point when clothing canít hide it. Once these curves get very big like mine did, I think they progress even more than one degree a year. I saw a seven degree progression in my curve in one year.

Patpow - I am in the same position as you are. I don't have any answers, only questions at this point.

Singer - I have been thinking a lot about your "church lady" lately. I might even make a doctors appointment to see if I've had any changes lately.

dd
57 yr. old female
Pembroke Pines, FL
No Surgery, No Way, Not Ever, but I reserve the right to change my mind
2003: rotatory component centered at L1 convexed to the left with a measurement of 68 degrees. Gentle compensatory thoracic curve and a more acute compensatory curve in the lumbar spine at L4-5 Superimposed fairly extensive degenerative change seen in the lumbar spine.

Little over two years ago I had resorted to the idea - No surgery never not ever again. Well, then this came up. I, too, have some elder folks who obviously did not have the surgery we are contemplating and I am sure if they had been faced with our decision they would have resorted to the idea of undergoing the knife again rather than to live like they are. I hve talked to folks who have had this surgery, altough i understand it's not a piece of cake, I am certain I am not up to living like I am (or worse) the rest of my life, let alone when I'm in my 70's. I've had (at least) 3 knee surgeries from an old softball injury during a home run, DeQuervain's tenosynovitis surgery on my right wrist from too much typing, hysterectomy a year ago - need i go on. With the most loving husband I have - I know i can make it through this. He has already helped me a nbunch and I know I wouldn't make it through all this pain I currently have without him!

Questions

I'm very interested in this subject to operate or not. What to do when one surgeon says yes, and the other says no. Both specialists in their field. I am 61 and am having increasing difficulties but have been told I'll be worse with surgery. Any comments anyone on older people having surgery. Are the pain levels awful or can you then sit and stand for a while. I'm currently unimpressed with my GP who just says don't iron for five hours bending forward. What do they think??? I only iron 4 items a day - I think they often have no reality of what life is like with constant pain and the effort of keeping going. So pleased to have this forum. Thanks everyone.

I'm very interested in this subject to operate or not. What to do when one surgeon says yes, and the other says no. Both specialists in their field. I am 61 and am having increasing difficulties but have been told I'll be worse with surgery. Any comments anyone on older people having surgery. Are the pain levels awful or can you then sit and stand for a while. I'm currently unimpressed with my GP who just says don't iron for five hours bending forward. What do they think??? I only iron 4 items a day - I think they often have no reality of what life is like with constant pain and the effort of keeping going. So pleased to have this forum. Thanks everyone.

I've talked to literally hundreds of older adults with scoliosis who have been at the point of making a decision about surgery. I think the vast majority of us will tell you that, when the pain gets bad enough, the decision becomes easy.

I have a totally unscientific quiz on my website to help people think about the things that should go into making such a decision. You can find it here:

I'm 60 and bracing with Spinecor vs surgery. Doing quite well. This of course, does not mean I may not face surgical need in the future. Absolutely no one can predict what any given human scolio spine may decide to do (darn it), we can make educated guesses but that's about as good as it gets - there are always exceptions to every rule and there just aren't any guarantees (with surgical or non surgical methods).

Should I ever require surgery it is good to know that there have been positive results, even with the well seasoned age group. While surgery was recommended (due to curvature degree and pain levels) prior to my Spinecor experience - the ball game has changed for the moment and I am out of that category. I do realize that scoliosis is a life long condition requiring attention, no matter what the treatment decision ultimately is. I'm not near a Schroth facility where I could spend several weeks learning a method that could help me hold/tame the curve over the course of my lifetime - so I guess I know where my first health vacation will be in retirement :-)

My pain was only moderate in my 50s but increasing. My curvature progressed rapidly in my 50s, and from first surgeon's appt. to surgery, increased 2 degrees (9 months.)

I could see where I was headed and still had plenty I wanted to do. I cancelled my first surgery date because I couldn't get it into my head that I really needed this major surgery. But I'm so glad I went ahead with it.

No regrets.

Surgery March 3, 2009 at almost 58, now 63.
Dr. Askin, Brisbane, Australia
T4-Pelvis, Posterior only
Osteotomies and Laminectomies
Was 68 degrees, now 22 and pain free

Hi patpow and franny,
Welcome to the forum. My surgeon also told me that generally curves deteriorate at 1 degree per year, however, in June '08 my curve was 50, then in March '09 it was 58. I knew something was wrong around xmas '08, as rhe pain had become more severe, and it felt like electric shocks going through my pelvic area and down my legs. My reason for surgery apart from, to stop the progression, was because, I wanted my quality of life back. Good luck in your decision making.

I had surgery at age 59 and it was the best thing I could have done for myself to secure a healthier future. The surgery and early recovery were rough but the benefits I have derived made it all worthwhile. I canít tell you how wonderful it is for me to now be able to stand in comfort while shopping, cooking, socializing, and even ironing. My standing duration is endless. Before surgery I had reached the point where I was leaning against anything for support. Those days are gone for good. In the hands of a truly competent surgeon who routinely performs adult scoliosis surgeries, I donít see how one would be worse following surgery. There is always a possibility for a serious complication, but that is very rare. I wish you well.

I echo your words Chris. I used to dread joining a queue, within 30 seconds the pain would start. I can stand endlessly now completely pain-free. All those activities you mention were cause of pain, but now I do them without thinking about my back. It seems nothing is too much trouble any more.

I am grateful every single day that this surgery was available to me and for the remarkable skills of my surgeon.

Surgery March 3, 2009 at almost 58, now 63.
Dr. Askin, Brisbane, Australia
T4-Pelvis, Posterior only
Osteotomies and Laminectomies
Was 68 degrees, now 22 and pain free

Wow!
My story is so identical to Patpow and I cannot believe that two days away from my Dtr surgery I am actually confronted with one day possibly having one of my own. I was diagnosed at 11 with Scoliosis. I am 52. My parent also chose only occasional visits to a chiropractor. Most people don't know I have scoli because you can imagine from 11 yrs to now I have learned to hide it well. I have no idea what my curvature is. I do know that I have spent most of my life with back pain (actually a way of life for me) and only when pregnant painless - except for now with the ahem additional weight I dont have much pain either. must be a balance thing - anyway I never heard of the curve increasing every year after a certain age I surely don't want to look up 10 years from now and totally require the surgery then. So. I guess once I am all done with Skye and her recovery I will take myself to an Ortho and see where we wind up... -